tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231978308107388993.post4794142490277548643..comments2024-02-11T19:16:26.189+09:00Comments on Japan: Home Sweet Home: Neighbors and the NeighborhoodGeorge and Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13108900417270606336noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231978308107388993.post-11211579546328856372014-05-21T13:26:44.230+09:002014-05-21T13:26:44.230+09:00Welcome and thank you for stopping by. We've b...Welcome and thank you for stopping by. We've been here for almost three years. I think the "honeymoon stage" has passed and reality has set in. I've opened my eyes to a few things, but my initial impression about living here remains the same...I love it! The level of friendship has declined dramatically with our next door neighbor. After a few surprise visits through our back door, we decided things were getting out of hand. We are on a "hello" basis and that's all. Our home is secluded from everyone else. That really helps in the privacy department. My ability to speak the native language is poor and that helps to keep our privacy also. As long as I welcome everyone with a big smile, I'm good to go. Sure, they are probably talking about the gaijin who can't speak the language after three years. It's okay. We have made friends in Tsukahara that share our same interests. They know that we are straightforward. If we like them, we let them know. The same is true the other way around. Erika is from the countryside and she can't stand gossip. The funny thing is...she knows just about everyone around here, so if there is any gossip, she'll be the first to know. It's kinda like fighting fire with fire. As far as moving to Nagoya to become anonymous, good luck with that. Japan is a small place. I think the only way to escape gossip is to find another country. George and Erikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13108900417270606336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1231978308107388993.post-50047832978878759762014-05-20T15:19:40.959+09:002014-05-20T15:19:40.959+09:00Just found your blog today and am really looking f...Just found your blog today and am really looking forward to reading backward from 2010. My wife and I moved out to a small village in Nagano seven years ago, and I had similar reaction to the way the neighbors are cordial and we know everyone. My wife (Japanese, from the city), on the other hand, has grown to hate it and paranoid about even going outside for a walk or a jog because the next day someone will say "I saw you walking yesterday. Where were you going?" Of course they are just trying to be friendly and make conversation, but she he thinks the neighbors will be gossiping about her and making up their own stories. It has gotten to the point where she does not leave the house much and we are probably moving to Nagoya where she can be anonymous again. <br /><br />I have not yet read many of your recent posts, but I hope there are some that reflect on how you felt about country life when you first came, compared to now, and if both you and Erika feel the same about it.kevin@onelifejapan.comhttp://www.bastish.net/blog/noreply@blogger.com